Determining the absolute thermo emfs of conductors using a Y1Ba2Cu3O7 ‑ δ rod

The voltage drop on a 110-mm-long Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_{7 ‑ δ} (YBCO) rod with a diameter of 7 mm bearing a current of 1 A has been studied as a function of the temperature. It is shown that YBCO rods can be used to measure the absolute thermo emf of conductors in a range of temperatures up to the onset of breakage of the superconducting state. The thermo emf of Ni, Cu, and W conductors was determined.